Rib Eye Steak and a T-Bone Steak?

For most people, the term steak conjures up images of juicy, tender, thin-cut beef—preferably served medium-rare or pink in the middle. But the term “steak” can refer to a variety of cuts of meat from different animals, with varying levels of tenderness, flavor, and cost.

In general, the more tender and flavorful a steak is, the more expensive it will be. The most expensive steak, naturally, is the rib-eye steak. But what’s the difference between a rib-eye steak and a t-bone steak?

In general, the two steaks come from the same part of the cow and are of comparable quality. If a restaurant says its serving of t-bone steak is USDA-certified Angus, then you can probably assume it’s the rib-eye that carries the more expensive tag. Here’s what you need to know about the two cuts of meat.

What’s the Difference Between a Rib-Eye Steak and a T-Bone Steak?

Both steaks come from the section of beef cattle which is located between the front legs. A rib-eye has the bone near the front of the steak, where the cow is allowed to eat the most expensive forage, while a t-bone has the bones farther back, where the animal is typically fed more generic forage. Additionally, a rib-eye has a more prominent strip of fat running lengthwise along the outer edge of the steak.

The difference between the two cuts mainly lies in the level of tenderness. A rib-eye steak is generally more tender and flavorful than a t-bone. However, due to the bone and location of the strip of fat running down the outside of the steak, a rib-eye is also generally more expensive than a t-bone.

Rib-Eye Steak

A rib-eye steak is the most expensive cut of beef steak and is cut from the rib section of the cow. As the name suggests, it has the rib bones along the edge of the rib cage. The small bones are often removed during processing, leaving the steak with a more evenly distributed grain.

Because of its location, a rib-eye steak has a different level of tenderness than a t-bone or other steaks from the center of the cow. However, it’s usually on the drier side and therefore benefits from a condiment such as a reduction or a barbecue sauce.

T-Bone Steak

A t-bone steak has the bones of the rib-eye and the strip of fat running down the outside of the rib-eye, making it look like a backward “T.” The t-bone comes from the midsection of the cow and is usually the most affordable cut of steak. However, it’s usually on the drier side and benefits from a sauce or a condiment.

Tenderness

The degree of tenderness a steak exhibits depends on several factors, including the age of the animal and the diet of the animal before it was slaughtered.

However, one of the most significant factors is the method of slaughter. The older a steak is, the more tender it will be because the animal was not slaughtered as a young animal, which would have resulted in a more tough steak.

Additionally, the amount of exercise the animal had before slaughter also has an effect. Animals that were kept in constant confinement and fed low-quality feed will be much less tender than those that were allowed to roam a pasture and eat grass.

Flavor

As with any type of meat, the flavor of a steak depends on a number of factors, including the breed of the cow and the method of slaughter. However, the location of the strip of fat running down the outside of the steak also has an effect.

Cows that eat feed with high levels of cereal grains will have a drier, less intense flavor than those that eat feed with higher levels of forage.

Cost

The price of a steak also varies by location. While a rib-eye steak can cost $15 or more, the price of a t-bone can be as low as $5 per pound.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to the difference between a rib-eye steak and a t-bone steak, the main difference is the level of tenderness and flavor. A t-bone is usually more tender and flavorful than a rib-eye steak.

However, due to the differences in the breeds of cattle and the method of slaughter, the location of the strip of fat on the outside of the steak, and the age of the animal, a t-bone is usually more expensive than a rib-eye.

With that in mind, there’s no difference between a rib-eye and a t-bone steak, with the latter being more affordable and the former being more tender. The only difference is the price. Can also vary depending on butchers.